What’s In Season In November?
It’s pumpkin season for sure!
You can’t miss it, especially if you live in the US. I, for one, love it! I love pumpkins and all sorts of squash and… They’re delicious, steamed, baked, in cookies, pies and cakes or in stews and warm salads.
November is also a great month to up your soup game, experiment and prepare your kitchen for the cooler months and you have some nutritious and delicious seasonal vegetables to play with.
Here are some of the best in season fruits and vegetables to eat this month:
1- Persimmons:
One of my favorite fruits of the season, Persimmons, they look like Tomatoes but are even more abundant in vitamin A. Just one persimmon contains over half the recommended intake of vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin critical for immune function, vision and fetal development. While hundreds of types exist, the Hachiya and Fuyu varieties are among the most popular. Persimmons are also a good source of thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), folate, magnesium and phosphorus.
2- Cranberries:
Cranberries are a good source of certain vitamins and minerals, as well as several unique plant compounds that may help prevent UTIs, stomach cancer, and heart disease. They’re related to blueberries, bilberries, and lingonberries.
Chop raw cranberries and add them to smoothies, salsas, salads, and oatmeal. You can also add them to cakes and biscuit recipes and get your punch of antioxidants!
Cranberries are also known to improve artery flexibility. This means enhanced circulation and blood flow, which takes the pressure off the heart and can help lower blood pressure.
3- Jujube:
Another favorite of mine, Jujube contains a high amount of potassium which helps in vasodilation and maintains blood pressure optimally. Jujube fruits have betulinic acid that has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. This date, also known as red or Chinese date, is native to Southern Asia but has become popular around the world and contains a bromelain enzyme that reduces mucus build-up and clears respiratory pathways.
In alternative medicine, they’re widely utilized to improve sleep and decrease anxiety.
You can find fresh Jujube in your local farmers market, but hurry as they won’t be around for too long!
4- Squash:
The age-old maxim that you should eat your greens holds true, but don’t overlook other colors when preparing what goes on your dinner plate. Vegetables that come in hues of yellow are packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and other health-boosting components.
Technically a fruit, winter squash typically appear as a vegetable on the dinner table. All varieties contain a healthy dose of vitamin A, in addition to other beneficial nutrients. A perfect choice for soup, mixed steamed vegetables, stew, cake, pie and bread.
5- Beets:
Beets contain pigments called betalains, which possess a number of anti-inflammatory properties.This could benefit several aspects of your health, as chronic inflammation has been associated with conditions like obesity, heart disease, liver disease, and cancer. Stored properly, fall harvest beets last all winter. Roast, grill, or steam them for an earthy-sweet dose of calcium, iron, and folate. This root vegetable, available in other colors besides purple, are also a great addition to your salads and sandwiches.
6- Chard:
Chard delivers vitamins K, A, C; vital magnesium; and respectable amounts of potassium, iron, and fiber, so it’s no surprise that it has a reputation as a nutritional powerhouse.
Here are a few easy ways to add Swiss chard to your diet:
Use it in hearty soups and stews
Add it to a mixed green salad
Toss a few leaves into your favorite smoothie
Toss wilted leaves into pasta dishes
Saute it with garlic and olive oil for a tasty side dish
7- Turnips:
Turnips are an excellent source of vitamin C, giving you 30 percent of your daily requirement in one cooked cup!
A flavor mashup between the zest of radish and the peppery bite of arugula, and well-known for its multitude of health-promoting properties, there are plenty of good reasons to add the turnip to your list this month!
If you’d like to learn more about seasonal eating, getting quick and simple plant based recipes, ask questions and… email me directly: info@nousahsalimi.com
Meanwhile get yourself some delicious seasonal fruits and vegetables, and let me know which one you like the best and how you’re having it.
Much love,
Nousha